Battle of Metuchen

The Battle of Metuchen was a minor battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on 15 November 1776 when the Continental Army Brigadier-General Silas Paine attempted to hold back the advance of Tory militias that and British rangers that invaded New Jersey from Staten Island. Paine attempted to defend Metuchen while Fort Lee was being held by Nathanael Greene just to the north, and the Continentals held their own against the Tories in a victory for the Americans.

Background
The Continental Army retreated from New York City in October 1776 after the defeat at the Battle of Long Island and the ensuing disaster at Kip's Bay, which showed George Washington that he had to outrun and outlast the British Army instead of make an all-out stand. Washington's army was chased out of the city by the British and repeatedly defeated, and it fell to Brigadier-General Silas Paine to protect the approaches to New Jersey to allow Washington's army to retreat to New Jersey and then to Pennsylvania. Paine, in command of a force of New York Continentals and rangers, decided to hold the British back at Metuchen, not far from Staten Island.

Battle
On 15 November 1776, a force of over 900 loyalist militia and Queen's Rangers left Staten Island to raid the Continental position and to push through to New Jersey. Paine knew that he could not allow this to happen, lest the British be able to advance into New Jersey and chase Washington's army down. Paine ordered his troops to be deployed along the main road near the town of Metuchen, with Robert Best's rangers being sent to harry the British. The battle opened with Best's rangers shattering a unit of British Green Jackets that attempted to attack the American left flank, which had appeared to be weak before the American rangers opened fire. The ensuing battle saw the American troops defend the roads from the British forces, inflicting heavy losses on their British/loyalist forces. The Queen's Rangers suffered unacceptably high losses, impairing their ability to strike back at the Americans as they began to peel back following their defensive victory. The Americans felled several British officers and soldiers in the battle, but they were ultimately required to retreat into New Jersey to assist Washington's army in the retreat from Forts Lee and Washington.